When people think of pirates, they often think of notorious, swashbuckling, seafaring men and women constantly searching for treasure – buried or otherwise – and meeting and fighting other pirates sailing the seas. Pirates come in all shapes and sizes, and each has his or her own reason for taking to the seas and doing some plundering. They go through exciting journeys in varied locales, and meet so many interesting people along the way. Perhaps because of the sheer adventurous quality of so many pirate stories, books, movies, and games about pirates still continue to appeal to a broad audience today. And that audience, of course, includes the young adult/teen readers.

Now before we go through a list of some of the best pirate books for YA/teen fiction readers, I’ll start by saying that there is a lot of pirate books out there, and it’s nearly impossible to cover them all. That said, we also acknowledge that lists of any kind will be inevitably incomplete – perhaps your favorite will be left out, or a great pirate book series was not mentioned – so don’t fret! If your favorite isn’t on the list, share it with us!

Alright, now here’s a list of some of the best pirate books for YA/teen fiction readers! This epic list includes different sorts of pirates – from your traditional swashbuckling heroes, to pirate romances, to a novel about a real-life pirate. There’s bound to be a good YA/teen pirate book for everyone on this list, so if you find something that interests you, don’t forget to add it to your list of books to read!

Two young women – one a plantation slave, the other a rebellious English girl who’s sent away to marry someone – meet under unusual circumstances and resolve to set each other free from their present situations and undertake a dangerous – but free – life as pirates.

What do the readers say?

“This book really paints a great picture of the difficulties for women in that time period, and how living the life of a pirate was truly more freeing than being constricted to the rules of society. Was a great read!” – Tara, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Kestrel has magic powers, and in a world where anyone with magical powers must be torn away from what she’s known and trained under the Danisoba, she has to keep her abilities hidden if she wants to stay free. Orphaned, she lives first as a street urchin, and then serves as a tavern maid before she escapes to the sea, where the water negates her magic. It while sailing the seas that Kestrel’s life changes, when she encounters a black ship and meets its handsome rogue of a captain.

What the readers say?

“A different type of fantasy that will keep you reading late into the night. This story is a combination of pirate and fantasy rolled into one. Though this is a stand alone tale, it clearly sets a strong foundation for future adventures of the Promise named Kestrel.” – Detra Fitch, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

The famous teenage pirate Emer Morrisey is on the verge of escaping the life of a pirate, with her riches and her true love. But Emer is slain and cursed with the “dust of 100 dogs,” and she is forced to live a hundred lifetimes as a dog before she can return to her human form again. Several centuries in the future, Emer, who lived in the seventeenth century, is now living in modern-day America, and needs to escape to Jamaica.

What do the readers say?

“I had built up my idea of this book in my mind and it did worry me it wouldn’t meet my expectations. Know what? It didn’t. It was something else altogether, and while incomparable to what I was expecting (I am telling you, you don’t know what this book will be like), it pleased me. It’s well-rounded, cultural, and depicts the world beyond. And aside from that, like I mentioned above, there are a lot of external things going for it. I expect big things from this one. Wait for it.” –Steph, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Ananna, a girl of the Tanarau, abandons her ship when she is forced to marry someone from another pirate clan. She dreams of captaining her own ship, and knows she cannot do it if she’s married. But escaping has a catch, as the pirate clan sends an assassin after her. When the assassin Naji finally gets to her, a life-altering curse is triggered, and both have to work together to get back to their normal lives.

What do the readers say?

“THE ASSASSIN’S CURSE was surprisingly a fun read that I quickly devoured! I’m not one to read Pirate books, I don’t even like Pirate movies, but with the raving reviews on GoodReads, and the synopsis describing impossible curses, assassins, strange magic, evil wizards, and more, I was definitely intrigued!” – Alicia, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Orphaned twins Conor and Grace defy expectations and set sail instead of allowing themselves to be adopted. They go to sea with their late father’s sailing boat, but it gets caught in the storm and capsizes. The twins get separated, and each is rescued by mysterious ships. Conor finds himself on a pirate ship, and soon undergoes training with a cutlass. Grace, meanwhile, is locked in a room, in a ship full of vampirates. The twins are determined to reunite, but they are about to embark on the biggest journey yet.

What the readers say?

“Never before have I heard of the idea to combine vampires and pirates into one. It is totally fresh and original. The author has portrayed the main characters as being capable, and able to fend for themselves, though at times they do admit that they need help. He has done this so well that you can’t help but cheer them on the whole way through. You can’t help too, falling in love with the hero, vampirate though he may be, Lorcan Furrey, who is just the type of person you’d want around should things get bad.” – Kami, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Terra Vonnel is a seventeen-year-old pirate, and famous for being known as the Sea Vixen. She has found the mysterious Skull of Aries, and must get the other skulls from her enemies to unlock the Gate of Monticule, behind which is the Orb of Time. What Terra and her crew do not know, however, is that something lies in the shadows along their journey – something unimaginable.

What do the readers say?

“I absolutely love Terra. She is exactly what a pirate should be, fierce, strong, determined, and ruthless. She knows what she wants and she’ll stop at nothing to get it. My only complaint with this story is the length. It’s so short and I’m just dying to see what happens next. So far I haven’t been able to find a sequel, so I’m not sure whether there’s going to be one. With the ending it could sort of go either way. But I’ll keep my eyes open and if I see another Terra adventure I’ll be sure to pick it up. If you like dashing pirates and breathtaking excitement, then I highly recommend this book.” – K, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Jill, a sixteen-year-old girl, is an expert bladeswoman and has fought in many fencing tournaments, but has never held a sharpened blade before. But when she picks up a rusting part of a sword along the Caribbean beach, she keeps it for herself. Little does she know that this piece will take her through time and transport her to a pirate ship, where she is forced to sign up with the pirate crew. The life of a pirate is dangerous, and as Jill learns more about the magic that sucked her into the past, she tries to formulate a plan that will hopefully get her home.

What do the readers say?

“Steel is a surprisingly fantastic adventure for teens and adults alike. A time-travel fantasy with swashbuckling pirates, danger, and suspense – this is a must read. This exciting voyage was well-paced and impossible to put down. This is a story I didn’t want to end. Full of swordplay, strong characters, and a bit of romance, I enjoyed every minute of it.” – SciFiChick, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Fifteen-year-old Catherine learns that her father is a pirate, and captains the ship Reprisal. Determined not to live with her aunt in Boston, she dreams of sailing the high seas, and eventually convinces her father to take her on – but disguised as a boy. She knows that the life of a pirate is brutal, and this is why she keeps the secret of her identity as close – and as guarded – as possible. If her secret is revealed, punishment is inevitable.

What do the readers say?

“I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. I have loved reading Eve Bunting’s picture books with my children, and was pleasantly surprised to find that she had written this chapter book. I am someone who loves well written fantasy with gentle romance. This book, although short, was an exciting adventure. The writing was excellent….just as I expected from this incredible author.” – Rachel A. Dale, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

The Cooke and the Hood families have always been rivals since the days of the Spanish Main. It is already the year 2004, but their rivalry has not ceased, and this threatens to blow up further when an old treasure map is discovered. But accountant Morgan Cooke does not care for this fight – until his father Isaac kidnaps him and forces him into their world. Waking up in the middle of the Caribbean, he finds out that piracy is still a big business. A life of adventure awaits Morgan, who decides that he’d like to live the adventurous life of a pirate.

What do the readers say?

“Pirates of Pensacola is a wonderful fusion of frenetic action and social satire. I found myself laughing out loud as I followed the Cooke’s on their rollercoaster ride. Thomson’s gift is the ability to draw the reader into his world of contemporary piracy while at the same time winking at the absurdity of that world. Somewhere between the tantalizing historical exposition and the cannon-firing bunglers of the modern day there is a line between reality and fantasy. Thomson’s craftsmanship is to hide that line so effectively that we give up and ignore it.” – John P. Felleman, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

A beautiful, seventeen-year-old girl finds herself on board a pirate ship, where she meets a mysterious, dark-eyed pirate who may just make her fall in love.

What do the readers say?

“This book was nothing spectacular, but it was good for what it was – a fun historical romance about pirates. If you like this kind of story, it’s the perfect summer read – it’s not a very long book, but it’s enjoyable while it lasts. It has a cute love story, and teenage girls who love pirate stories are sure to enjoy it.” – Rebecca Herman, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Captain Charles Johnson is forced to reside at a small inn when strong winds buffet his boat off the coast of Nova Scotia. There he meets Jim and Jim’s mother, the owner of the inn. He becomes an asset to the business, helping out with the inn’s affairs and changing Jim’s family’s fortune. But Jim suspects that Charles Johnson is not who he seems to be, especially since his tales of sailing with pirates sound so vivid, and since he seems to know more than he should.

It is 1638, and fourteen-year-old Gabriella Berryngton dreams of escaping a life with her ambitious, relentless, bitter stepfather and journeying into unknown lands. Her dreams come true, but only when her stepfather sells her and gives her hand to someone in marriage. She finds a new life on board the ship Freyja, and thinks everything will start getting better – until she is given her own slave, Klara, and finds out that her father-in-law is actually a slave-driver. Her soon-to-be husband is disinterested, and soon Gabriella discovers that her life won’t be better, and her only consolation is her developing friendship with Klara.

What do the readers say?

“I enjoyed the read enough to jump online the same day and buy the next one.It’ll probably keep me up till 2.30 am like the last one! The images she created in our minds of the incidents and the relationships were realistic and genuine. I liked that we knew of Erik’s sadistic side, but we didn’t have to read it in detail. It was just enough to give us the general idea. Well done. Keep writing!” – Avid Reader, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Assassin Celaena Sardothien has been sent by the Assassin’s Guild to the Lord of the Pirates, to collect debt. She discovers, however, that the debt is to be paid in slaves and not money, and so Celaena does what is proper – to right the wrong she’s been sent to do.

What the readers say:

“If you want a swashbuckling story that will suck you in, toss you around and send you stumbling out the end cheering, this one’s for you. It’s a heap of fun, and the start of something very special!” – Arnie Kaufman, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

A classic, and one of the most popular pirate tales of all time, the book follows the story of young Jim Hawkins, who serves as a cabin boy on the Hispaniola, as the ship goes on a journey through the Spanish Main and is later rocked by a mutiny led by Long John Silver.

What do the readers say?

“A classic of the genre and its reputation is well deserved. It’s easy to be put off pirates by less faithful adaptations and Disneyfied shenanigans, but it does not take long into ‘Treasure Island’ to realise that Stevenson really knew how to write this genre. He gives us effective characters and credible dialogue, knows how to set a scene and knows how to move a story along at a pace that hardly flags. Forget ‘Pirates of the Carribbean’: this is where to get the ‘real’ fictional pirates.” – john d steele, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

“I found the hero, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, to be very likable and funny. He is an unlikely viking, scrawny and uncoordinated, who is forced to take pirate lessons from “Gobber-the-Belch,” another member of his tribe. Luckily Hiccup has a sympathetic best friend named Fishlegs and a small pet dragon named Toothless to see him through his adventures. An engaging quick read with a surprisingly wise ending, I recommend this book to all pirate lovers and anyone with a sense of humor.” – Jennifer, Goodreads user. [Review from Goodreads]

Sylvester Lemmington has read about some dangerous and amazing people and creatures, from cannibals, to jungles, and even to spaceships. But he never thought he’d encounter some of them in his lifetime. Now he has to save his sweetheart, her mother, and the friends he’s met along the way, and escape the terrifying pirate captain Terrigan Rustbane, after Sylvester accidentally receives a sought-after treasure map – the one that Rustbane owns.

What do the readers say?

“The Tides of Avarice is a delightful journey following Sylvester as he leaves the safety of his home into the adventurous life with pirates and searching for a treasure. Besides finding the treasure is also the question of what is the treasure. This is an in-depth adventure with extremely well-developed three dimensional characters. The writing is enthralling and a constant page-turner. John Dahlgren is a masterful storyteller.” –Teri A. Davis, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Jacky and her classmates from the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls are abducted and put on the ship Bloodhound, which is bound for the slave markets along the Barbary Coast. Jacky must put her skills to the test, to save herself and her classmates from their dire situation.

What do the readers say?

“Jackie Faber does it again…this is the continuing story of our hapless heroine. I really liked the first two installments but I am thinking that twelve books about a fifteen year old girl among the sea faring brotherhood is going to “jump the shark” pretty soon. I hope that it doesn’t but then do I care enough to keep buying the books…I think I will wait and see.” – Ken Jimenez, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Jade is an Emmia – a girl with magical blood, responsible for keeping the soil of her land fertile, and keeping her people safe. Her life takes a turn, however, when pirates steal an important magical medallion from her, causing the prince she loves to sentence her to death. Finding no way out from the predicament, she escapes from her homeland to find the pirate who wronged her in an attempt to retrieve the medallion. Meanwhile, her escape puts her sister in danger. Jade must find a way to accomplish her mission, but all the while she discovers that the kingdom she left – and the pirates she’s met – are not what they seem to be.

What do the readers say?

“Pieces of Jade is the first in the Pirates of Orea series and I truly cannot wait to read the next one. This is the book I chose as my first book to start reading in 2014. I am so happy I did. It delivered exactly what I was hoping: magic, adventure and love.” – Brooke Baumgardner, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Hamish X is detained at a factory where children make blue cheese in order to earn their keep. Highly unsatisfied with this life, Hamish X plans to escape, along with his friends Parveen and Mimi. But when the factory is attacked by a gang of pirates, Hamish X’s plans change, and his goal now is to save the orphans and fight the pirates, alongside Mimi and Parveen.

What do the readers say?

“Only three books, but if you know the absurd comedy of Sean Cullens, then you know you are in for a treat. His narrator’s voice is wonderful, its absolutely hilarious to read aloud, and the pacing is spot on. Great book, and I recommend the hard back for the “special” cover.” – Read_to_me, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Jon Sinclair lives with his grandparents, who both have a knack for time travelling. Jon has already traveled through time with his grandparents on board the capsule called the Carousel, and now Jon and his grandmother are traveling back in time to July 4, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Carousel malfunctions, however, and they emerge at a different time and place altogether – Jamaica, 1692. While Jon’s grandmother fixes the time machine, he wanders off – only to be kidnapped by the notorious pirate BlackHeart. Now Jon is made a cabin boy, and must do his best to survive while his grandparents search for him.

What do the readers say?

“I have just completed this book and, boy, what can I say? This book is an intriguing, MUST read, entertaining book. Sally Copus keeps your attention and mind hopping as you try to figure out what will happen next. Even though this book is clearly fictional fantasy, it mixes in bits of history, like the earthquake that occurs on June 7, 1692, which actually did happen.” – Jen, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Puppeteer John Chandagnac is on board the Vociferous Carmichael. Sailing towards Jamaica to claim his birthright, he is attacked by pirates, but is offered a choice by the captain, Phil Davies: either he join their pirate band, or he die. So John agrees to join, and assumes a new name – John Shandy – as he starts his new life as a pirate. But little does John know that this is only the start of stranger things to come, as he will face evils and meet Blackbeard.

What do the readers say?

“Tim Powers grabbed me with this one. Being born in the Caribbean, I have always felt the lure of the old history, rum, pirates, treasure and treachery. Here it has the additional elements of Voodoo, and mystical experiences. It has a good pace and is full of visual description that makes for a most engrossing read.” – Dr Arachne Phibes, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Nix’s father owns a ship called The Temptation, which allows him to travel anywhere – even through time and space. All he needs is a map. And now her father has managed to find a specific map that will take him to a specific time – 1868, Honolulu, right before Nix’s mother died giving birth to her. Now Nix’s entire life hangs in the balance, as her father attempts to reunite with her mother, potentially undoing everything that Nix has ever been, is, and ever will be.

What do the readers say?

“Wow, this book! Where should I even begin? This book has brilliant story telling, a great cast of characters, time travel, fantastic world building, pirates, romance, costumes, myths, history, and it managed to keep my attention for three straight days of reading… This is a unique story and worth a read if you like any of the above mentioned subjects.” – Karen Blue, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Artemisia Blastside plans to escape from the Angels Academy for Young Maidens, where her tyrant father has sent her. All she wants is to return to the life of a seafarer, which she shared with her late mother, who was killed by a cannon blast six years before.

What do the readers say?

“But I was hooked within the first ten pages. Though the author uses a style which is hard to get into at first, it was a nice change of pace from the usual, standard way books are written, and overall I think it would not have been as good if it hadn’t been written this way.” – A. Greer, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

This book tells the story of the pirate Grace O’Malley, who once owned a dozen ships and commanded thousands of men. Her life is intertwined with Elizabeth I, whom O’Malley defied.

What do the readers say?

“This is an exciting, swashbuckling tale about a little known historical Irish persona in the 16th century. Her life is the stuff legends are made of and I only wish there were as many historical fictions novel about Grace O’Malley as there are about Elizabeth I, Queen of England. There are two historical fiction novels by Morgan Llywelyn concerning Grace O’Malley, I’ve read both and they are very excellent reads as well as this one.” – Kimberly Gelderman, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Jolly is a polliwog, a child who can walk on water. She’s the last polliwog alive, and an important person to the pirate captain who had raised her. But when her captain’s ship is captured, Jolly is the only one who manages to escape, and finds herself on an island where a farming family and their ghost workers live. The farmers have a son called Munk, who also happens to be a polliwog. When Munk’s parents are killed by a mysterious, evil threat from the sea, Jolly and Munk go on a journey to stop this threat, and avenge their loved ones.

What do the readers say?

“One thing about Meyer is that he certainly know how to create an original fantasy with odd and exciting elements that no one has ever seen or experienced before. There’s always a twinge of darkness that creeps into the heroes, making them questionable as to whether they are good or bad. With this series, there is no exception. The exotic and mysterious setting of the Caribbean and pirates, ghosts, men with dog heads, giant maelstroms that release magic and try to take over the world, as well as the fact that the main characters have the ability to walk on water as if it were normal makes these books fun and engaging to read.” –Lindsey Miller, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Sebastian and his companions Max and Cornelius are off to the port of Ramalat to start a perilous journey, searching for the long lost treasure of the Pirate King Captain Calinestra. The way to the treasure is not easy, however, as they have to go the mysterious forest of Geltrane, and survive their meeting with the enchantress Leonora, who has a hold on Sebastian’s senses. There are also other pirates, a lot of ravenous sea creatures, and giant lizards – all standing in the way to the lost treasure.

What do the readers say?

“The plot kept me hooked and I continued flipping the pages, dying to know what happened to the characters next. When you think things are going to be okay, another problem jumps out! You will be sitting there, biting your nails as you pray for the characters’ safety.” – Diana Dang, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

James Hook meets Peter Pan, who takes him on a holiday in Neverland. But Neverland, a place made by the dreams of children, is not as easy and as whimsical as James thought it would be. Soon, James only wants to go home and to grow up, but Peter won’t let him grow up, and so James – torn away from everything he holds dear – is forced to stay in Neverland. But there, in the land where children remain children, James Hook grows up.

What do the readers say?

“Never Never had my entire body tensed for a good part of the novel. Whether it was because they were traipsing through the woods or because Hook was making a terrible decision, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the making of a villain. If you ever asked how Captain Hook came to be, this is an excellent answer. After all, villains are made aren’t they? It’s a decision they make but they also tend to experience traumatizing things. Never Never is the account of a young boy who became a villain.” – Chasm of Books, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

Orphans Nathan and Maud are offered refuge and a new life sailing the seas, when they meet Tamo White, the son of a pirate.

What do the readers say?

“I love how this book just grips you. I seriously couldn’t put it down. I always tried to find a little relationship between Tamo and Maud, but I’m not totally sure if there was one. This books is definitely great. It’s kind of frustrating to see Tamo follow in his footsteps. I like how Maud becomes so strong, and I think it’s funny how Nathan reacts to the villager’s religion. I loved this book, it was great.” – Cate, Amazon user. [Review from Amazon]

After a lifetime of training, seventeen-year-old Princess Nile Greysik, a lieutenant on the prestigious Ashing navy flagship, sails into battle with one vital mission—and fails.

Barred from the sea and facing a political marriage, Nile masquerades as a common sailor on the first ship she can find. With a cowardly captain, incompetent crew, and a cruel, too-handsome first officer intent on making her life a living hell, Nile must hide her identity while trying to turn the sorry frigate battleworthy. Worse, a terrifying and forbidden magic now tingles in Nile’s blood. If anyone catches wind of who Nile is or what she can do, her life is over. But when disaster threatens the ship, Nile may have no choice but to unleash the truth that will curse her future.

To save her sister from starvation and hold on to her relationship with Calev—the high-caste friend she secretly loves—Kinneret sets out for a lost island of silver. But when a madman enslaves her sister, Kinneret must make a deal with the local ruler: Help the leader find the island and secure the ruler’s place in history. In return, the leader’s fighting sailors will rescue her sister.

Using Salt Magic to navigate cursed waters, Kinneret and Calev struggle to hide their taboo, caste-breaking feelings for one another, knowing if the ruler witnesses the attraction, she’ll cancel the agreement. But when Calev makes a terrible mistake, Kinneret must choose between the life of her only remaining family member and saving the boy she loves from a traitor’s death.

That’s it! It’s a pretty hefty list, and one that will hopefully satisfy your hunger for excellent seafaring, swashbuckling pirate tales. There are, of course, a lot of other excellent pirate books that are not on this list – so if you know some great pirate books for teens and YA readers, let us know in the comments!